Unite Students submits planning application to redevelop Cambridge Halls in Manchester

Unite Students, the UK’s leading owner, manager and developer of student accommodation, has submitted a full planning application to Manchester City Council to redevelop Cambridge Halls on the All Saints Campus.

The plans will replace the current 770-bed building with 2,300 new student beds across two complexes separated by a new public thoroughfare. The development will help to meet the University’s growing need for student housing while also improving the overall quality of accommodation and providing new spaces for community use along Cambridge Street as part of an investment worth almost £400 million.

Manchester Met prides itself on delivering an outstanding student experience. The development of Cambridge Halls will continue this commitment and, alongside the University’s Gold ranking in the Teaching Excellence Framework, contribute to its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Manchester is the UK’s second-largest university city with over 100,000 full-time students studying at four universities. Manchester Metropolitan University needs around 5,700 beds every year to meet the demand from its first year and international students, but currently owns less than half that amount. This significant under supply is a common story across the city and has resulted in increased rents, reliance on privately rented family homes.

Through a joint venture (‘JV’) with Manchester Metropolitan University, Unite Students is seeking to redevelop the site to help ensure as many students as possible have access to high-quality, modern on-campus accommodation, including facilities like private bathrooms which are now a clear expectation of the modern student experience. The plans will see the existing Cambridge Halls demolished and redeveloped, providing 2,300 new studio and cluster bedrooms at a range of price points.

Following public consultation and stakeholder engagement over the past year, a number of changes have been made to the scheme which has been submitted. This includes the retention of unrestricted pedestrian movements through the middle of the site, as well as enhanced, shared public spaces.

Andrew Fallon, Chief Property Officer, Manchester Metropolitan University, said:

“As an ambitious University, we are committed to providing a truly modern campus here in the city centre for our students, colleagues and the community. We are delighted to be partnered with Unite Students for the redevelopment of Cambridge Halls.

“This joint venture will provide much needed additional purpose-built student accommodation in Manchester, right on the doorstep of our University. The final plans we have submitted will not only enhance the quality of housing for students, but also benefit the surrounding community through new health, wellbeing, and retail offerings.”

Thomas Brewerton, Group Development Director at Unite Students, said:

“Following extensive local consultation and engagement, we have incorporated feedback from ward members and the community in our final plans and we are thrilled to be submitting a detailed planning application to Manchester City Council. These proposals will transform Manchester Metropolitan University’s ability to meet the accommodation needs of its students without the need for  travel to and from campus, so everyone can benefit from a world-class learning environment. It will also help to ease Manchester’s housing shortage by freeing up homes for local families.

Manchester Metropolitan University has committed to close the existing student accommodation on the site, with work due to commence later this year. Subject to planning permission, construction is expected to commence in 2026, with Phase 1 in operation for the start of the 2029 new academic year with the opening of 1,101 beds and Phase 2 operational by September 2030, when a further 1,201 beds will open.

The project team, working alongside Unite Students and Manchester Metropolitan University, consists of Turley (Planning, Strategic Communications, Economics, EIA, Heritage, TVIA and Sustainability), architects Cartwright Pickard, Re-Form Landscape, Arup and Waterman Group.

ENDS

About Unite Students

Unite Students is the UK’s largest owner, manager, and developer of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) serving the country’s world-leading higher education sector. We provide homes to 68,000 students across 158 properties in 23 leading university towns and cities. We currently partner with over 60 universities across the UK.

Our people are driven by a common purpose: to provide a ‘Home for Success’ for the students who live with us. Unite Students’ accommodation is safe and secure, high quality, and affordable. Students live predominantly in en-suite study bedrooms with rents covering all bills, insurance, 24-hour security and high-speed Wi-Fi.

We are committed to raising standards in the student accommodation sector for our customers, investors, and employees. Our Sustainability Strategy includes a commitment to become net zero carbon across our operations and developments by 2030. It includes our Sustainable Construction Framework, which outlines our approach for reducing embodied carbon.

Founded in 1991 in Bristol, the Unite Group is an award-winning Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit Unite Group’s corporate website www.unitegroup.com or the Unite Students’ site www.unitestudents.com.

About Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University is making an impact on Manchester, the UK and beyond, with a driving ambition to discover and disseminate knowledge, and make higher education accessible and beneficial to all those with the passion and ability to succeed.

The University, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2024, is home to 43,000 students with an alumni network of more than 340,000 graduates.

90% of its research is rated as ‘internationally excellent’ and it has been rated in the top five most sustainable universities in the UK for the past 12 years.